BENNETT, Wayne D. (1927-2015)

BENNETT

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/30/2021 at 00:22:40

Wayne D. Bennett
(November 7, 1927 - September 3, 2015)

IDA GROVE – Memorial services for Wayne D. Bennett, 87, of Ida Grove were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, at First United Methodist Church in Ida Grove with Rev. Kristin D. Boysen will officiating. Family graveside services were at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 21, at the Ida Grove Cemetery in Ida Grove. Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home in Ida Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Wayne D. Bennett was born on November 7, 1927 in Schaller, Iowa, the son of Wilbur and Blanche (Neal) Bennett. He grew up on a farm southwest of Schaller, Iowa, where he attended country school. At the age of 16, Wayne graduated from Ida Grove High School with the class of 1944. After high school Wayne went on to further his education at Iowa State University, but was called home to work on the family farm at the end of his freshman year. On June 5, 1949, Wayne married Barbara Noll at the First United Methodist Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. They made their home on a farm south of Galva. Wayne and Barbara were blessed with two children, Gary and Candice. Wayne started farming with his brother, Bruce, in 1950. The family moved to the town of Ida Grove, Iowa when Wayne retired from farming in 1989.
In 1972 Wayne was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives. He served a total of ten terms in the House of Representatives, from 1973 to 1993. Wayne was then elected to serve in the Iowa State Senate, where he served one term from 1993 to 1997. On September 18, 2004, Wayne married Jean Irwin at the Silver Creek United Methodist Church. He welcomed three stepchildren, Jim, Tom, and Linda and their families. He died Sept. 3, 2015 at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Blanche Bennett; first wife, Barbara Bennett; and wife, Jean Bennett. Survivors include his children, Dr. Gary (Rev. Betsy) Bennett of Hastings, Nebraska, and Candice Bennett of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; brother, Bruce (Marlys) Bennett; sister, Barbara (Robert) Ruchensky; step children, Jim (Lori) Irwin of Arthur, Iowa, Tom (Jean) Irwin of Little Elm, Texas, and Linda (John) Sichenze of Front Royal, Virginia.
Sources: Ida County Courier, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thurs., Sep 3, 2015 and Christensen-VanHouten Funeral Services, Ida Grove, Iowa at http://www.christensenvanhouten.com/